Method and apparatus for supporting timbering in tunnels



May 4 1926;

v G. LEWIS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TIMBERING IN TUNNEL-S Filed June 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnaw riot Lew/i4.

e M w Fa May "4 1926.

v G. LEWIS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TIMBERING IN TUNNELS Filed June 5,1925 .3 Sheets-Shes; 2

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G. LEWIS "us'rnon m APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TIMBE'RING Iv. TuNNEL placed by permanent plumb posts.

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED stares GEORGE LEWIS, 01 DENVER, GQLORADS, A$$IGNOR OF ONE ElALF TO PETER SEERIE.

rasur FICE.

METHOD APPARATUS FOR SUPL QRTTNG TIMBEBING IN TUNNELS.

. Application filed June 5, 1-9-25. Serial Not 35,166;

To aZZ 10710221 in may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE Lnwis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Supporting Timbering in Tunnels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and enact description of. the invention, such as will on able others szilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to lllllDl'O'VElDQlltS in methods and apparatus for. excavating tunnels. 8 here tunnels are cut through hills and mountains, for railroads orother purposes, it often happens that a portion of the tunnel has to be cut through ground or rock that is so soft that the roof and walls have to, be held in place by heavy timbers. Heretofore it has been customary to first cut a top heading of a height sufficient to provide' room for the longitudinal wall plates and roof ribs which were then put in place, properly aligned and blocked. The bench was then excavated. It is evident that since the wall plates and ribs rested on the bench, means had to be provided to support the same when the bench was removed. This was accomplished putting in place'some temporary plumb posts which were later re- This method, for reasons that need not be pointed out in detail, is slow and consequently expensive. The position of the temporary plumb posts was such that'a steam shovel could not conveniently be used in removing the bench and which therefore increased the amount of labor. v I I It is the object of this invention to pro duce a method of tunneling that shall greatly decrease the labor cost and an apparatus by means of which the method may be carried out. 7

My method, briefly described, consists in cutting a top heading of suflicient height to support the roof timbers, placing the wall plates in place on the upper surface of the bench, placing the roof ribs in place in the l P es cutting awa the beach a d s r invented of my porting the wall plates and roof ribs from the upper surface of the bench until the plun'ih posts have been put. in place. By

this means it becomes possible toemploy a steam shovel to remove the much from the bench and .to prevent the sagging of the roof ribs.

The apparatusemployed consists in part of two forty-eight (48) inch 31 beam girders sixty feet long, cross braced on six: feet centers so as to be held in parallel relation.

These girders are supported on two tracks, that rest upon the bench, and extend rearwarcly overthe end of the bench. At their rear sure these girders are provided with crossbeams provided at their ends with hangers which engage underneath and support the wall plates between the end of the bench and the permanent plumb posts.

My invention can be most. clearly described and will be most readily understood when reference is hadto the accompanying drawings where the preferred embodimentwhich: g s I Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a tunnel showing my apparatus in place; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the girders and lateralbeams Fig. l is a section taken on line l4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the wedge member shown in section in Fig. 6 and Fig. Fig. 5. r

In the drawings numeral 1 represents the top of the tunnel bore and 2 the fioor or sub-grade line, while 3 represents the upper surface of the bench. The space between the roof and the upper surface of the bench will be referred to as the top heading and has been indicated in Fig. l by the numeral 4:.

The top heading is first cut to any distance desired. The roof must, of course, be sup ported owing to the nature of the ground which is such that it will fall if it is left unsupported, (where the tunnel is cut through hard rock no timbering is required and'my method and apparatus "is not employed).

The top heading; is preferably extended a distance equal to the length of the wall plates or for the purpose" of this illustration twenty fee T e wall'plates 5 are a j'usted'to' the apparatus has been shown and in 6 is; a section taken on line 6+6 reasons.

proper level and supported on short posts 6 which are cut to the proper lengthsv to give the wall plate thenecessary support. The roof ribs 7, S, 9 and 10 and planking 11 are then put in place onthe plates in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The space between the planking 11 and the roof of the tunnel is then packed with wood or stone. As the bench upon which the plate 5 and other timbering is supported must be removed, it becomes necessary to provide means for su porting the same for some distance back of the rear end of the bench as the permanent plumb posts 12 cannot be put into place until the sidewalls of the tunnel have been cut back and made plumb. Heretofore. it

has been customry to support the section of the wall plate between the bench and the permanent plumb posts by means of temporary posts. As these posts must be put into place before the side walls have been made vertical they must be set on an incline. This interferes with the operation of the steamshovel and is objectionable for other It is evident that if the roof tin1- bering could be temporarily supported without. the use of the inclined posts, that there would be more room to work and that therefore the permanent plumb posts could be more easily put in place.

For the purpose, of supporting the wall plates 5 and the timbering of the roof while the side walls are bein cut away; so as to permit the permanent plumb posts to be set,

I have provided the following apparatus.

I have built a, very strong. and'rigid bar which consists of two I beam girders 1 4 and 15 which are held in spaced relation by means of transverse angles 16 and transverse cross braces 17 and 18. Similar cross braces 19 and 20 (Fig. 3) connect the upper and lower flanges of the girders and prevent the bar from bendin sidewise. Secured to the underside of each girder at points equidistantly spaced from the centerare dollics 21 having each two rotatable wheels 22 which rest upon the web of I beam 23 that are sup ported on the timbers 24 which in turn are supportedfrom, the upper surface o of the V bench, all in the mannerquite clearly shown in Figsl and 2. The Lbeams 23 and timbers 24 arepreferably made ofsections each about twelve feet long. Asthe topheading is extended the track, composedofmembers 23. and; 24, is also extended; andjproperly leveledand aligned so that-the bar may. be moved whenever. necessary. Each end of the bar is provided witl r pairsof crossbeains25 which prcjectto t sides thereof andwhich may. be mored transversely of the. bar and also. longitudinally thereof. 'llhese cross beams. are preferablyconstructed from two te -in h. eams he d. n; Parall ne ela ie ibv meaasiotp atesfi hat? ec ire t the class.

to the upper flanges, and by means of spacers supporting the wall plates-5m the manner shown in Fig. 2. The transverse beams25 are secured to the girders 14 and 15 by the following means. A framework consisting of four angles 31 comprising two pair; the angles of each pair being held together at their upper cuts by means of plates 32, the pairs being connected at'their lower ends by plates 33. Strong bolts 34 connect plates 32 and rollers 35 connect the plates 33. These frames are applied to the girders in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the plates 32 on tending parallel with the girders and the plate transversely. The beams 25 extend through the lower ends of the frames and are supported on the rollers 35 (Fig. 4). As many pair of these transversebeams 25 may be applied tothe rear end of the bar as may be found to be necessary to properly support the timbering for a suflicient distance to permit the permanent plumb posts 12 to be set. This may require 6 to 8 pair. t is evident that the enormous weight of the timbering cannot be supported from the rear end of the bar unless the front end is prevented fromcmoving upwardly. I, therefore, secure engage firmly the bottom of the wall plate.

5. This is accomplished by means of compound wedges each comprising two members 36 and 37 having adjacent surfaces 38 and 39 inclined outwardly from the center. edges 40 are connected by means of a bolt 41 having right and left hand. threads which cooperate with similar threads in the wedges 40. When the bolt 41 is rotated so asto move the: wedges together the blocks 06 and 3;? will be forced apart. One of these compound wedges is. placed" between the top of the'girder and the bolts 34 (Fig. 4). By rotatinjg the bolt 41 the frame comprising the angles 31 ismoved upwardly and this moves the hooks 30 against the under side of the wall plates 5. It is evident that only one compound wedge is required for'each cross beam as the cantilever action will force the inner end of the beam upwardly against one ofthe girders. Y i

In accordance with my invention the tunneli ng operation is. carried out as follows: The top heading is cut to a levelsomewhat below the levelof the-vertical portionof the sidewalls, If-the ground; is very soft. and rum y, t m y necessa y- 0 first ut an-lLeaeninsaQneadrsitleanil;tenetasst;

, top heading is'at least fifty feet long.

for loading the muck onto cars.

tion of thewall plate 5 in place,,the top heading can then be excavated and tiinbered until the forward end of the wall plate is reached when another section of wall plate is put into place. This is continued until the The timbers 24; and I beams 23 are then put in place and properly le *eled so as to form a track. The bar comprising the girders 14: and 15 is now put in place upon the track which supports the bar through the dollies 21. The transverse beams at the forward end of the bar are now extended so that the hooks engage the underside of the wall plates 5 and adjusted by means of the compound wedges so as'to hold'the bar level.

In a similar manner the transverse beams 25 are put into place wi h hooks 3O engaging the underside of the plates 5 and adjusted as to height by means of the compound wedges. The bench may now be removed as far as the foremost transverse beam at the rear end. As the bench is removed the weight of the timbering will be supported by the cantilever bar in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Since the timbering is supported from the upper surface of the bench, there is no obstruction and the steam shovel can be used lVhile the timbering is held in place by the bar, the side walls can be cut back as far as desired and the permanent plumb posts put intoplace after which the transverse beams may be released and withdrawn from under the wall plates after which the bar is advanced ployed in moving the bar ahead and at the rear'with a similar hoist 43 that can be used for any purpose desired and which is used in raising the plumb post 12.

From the above it is apparent that I have produced an apparatus that greatly simplifies and cheapens the construction of tunnels as it makes it possible to do more of the work by machinery. It alsomakes it possible to do a better and more satisfactory job of timbering.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. The method of supporting the rooftinibering, in a tunnel having a top heading, while the tunnel is cut to proper depth and until the permanent plumb posts are set which consists in supporting a cantilever bar from the floor of the heading, anchoring the front end of said bar to the walls of the tunnel heading so that it cannot move upwardly and supporting a portion of said timber-- ins om e rear and of ai h s posts 2. An apparatus for supporting the roof timbering of a tunnel so has to permit the bench to be removed and permanent plumb put'into place comprising a long bar of rigidconstruction adapted to be inserted 'o a. top headinghaving roof timbering supported on wall plates, said bar having means at its rear end for engaging under neat-h and supporting the wall plates and means at its front end for preventing it from movingupwardly when a downward pressure is applied to the rear end. i

3; In a tunnel having a top heading, wall plates supported on the floor of said heading and roof timbering supported by said wall plates, means for supportingthewall plates and timbering while the tunnel is cut down to grade said means comprising a rigid, strong bar adapted to extend longitudinally of said top heading, means secured to the rear end of said bar for engaging under n th the wall plates and supporting the sand means operatively attached to the front end of said bar for holding the same against upward movement with respect to the floor of said heading when downward pressure is applied to the rear end.

a. Means for supporting the roof timbering in a tunnel while the plumb posts are being put into place, comprising a bar composed in part of two'parallel girders, means for supporting said bar from the floor of a top heading, means for preventing the front end of said bar from moving upwardly when. a downward force is applied to the rear end and means attached to the rear end of said bar for engaging and supporting wall plates that support roof timbering said last named means comprising beams projecting to the sides of said bar.

5. Means for supporting the roof timber-. ing of a tunnel while the plumb posts are being put into place comprising, in combination, an elongated bar adapted to be sup ported intermediate its ends on the floor of a top heading, beams extending transversely from each side of said bar near each end thereof, said beams being adapted to engage the underside of said timbering whereby a portion of said timbering is supported while the level of the tunnel is cut down to grade and while the permanent plumb posts are put into place.

6. A bar for supporting the roof timbering of a tunnel while the plumb posts are being set comprising, in combination, a pair of girders, means for holding said girders in parallel spaced relation, a plurality ofpairs of transverse beams secured to the underside of said girders and projecting laterally from each side thereof and means for moving said transverse beams towards or away from the bottom of said girders.

7. In a tunnel having a top heading, wall plates upp ted from the fl or of the head-- ing' and roof timbering supported from said wall plates, means for supporting a portion of the timberiug while the level of the tunnel is cut to grade and while the permanent plumb posts are put into place, said'means comprising, in combination, a bar formed in part by two girders, means for holding said girders in spaced parallel relation, a pluraloi? pairs of beams extending transversely of said bar near each end thereof, means for seeming said beams to the girders, said means comprising frames surrounding said girders and beams and means for moving said beams towards or away from said girders.

8. In a tunnel having a top heading, wall plates supported from the floor 01"- the heading and root timbering supported from said wall plates, means for supporting a portion of the timbering while the level of the tunnel is out to grade and while the permanent plumb posts are put into place, said means comprising, in combination, a bar formed in part by two girders, means for holding said girders in spaced parallel relation, said means comprising a plurality of cross braces, a plurality of pairs of beams extending transversely of said bar near each end, said beams having hooks on their outer ends for v 30 engagin underneath the wall plates, means for securlng said beams to the girders and means for. moving said beams towardsor away from said giroers.

9. In a tunnel having a top heading, wall plates supported from the floor of the headwall plates, means for supporting a portion of the timbering while the level of the extending transversely of said bar near each end, said beams having hooks in their outer ends for engaging underneath the wall plates, means for securing said beams to the girders and means for moving said beams towards or away from said girders, said last named means comprising a compound wedge consisting of two relatively movable members having their ends provided with inclined surfaces that cooperate to form inwardly tapering cavities, a wedge in each cavity and a bolt having threaded connection with the wedges for moving them towards or away from each other.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

enoaes LEWIS.

mg and roof timbering supported from said 

